USA Women’s Eagles vs Spain #WRWC2017 Preview

The USA Women’s Eagles will face Spain in the second Pool B match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 at the UCD Bowl in Dublin starting at 9:45 a.m. ET.

The USA enters the match with some momentum after beating Italy 24-12. Spain faced the number one ranked team in the world in England, losing 56-5.

The match against Spain will be the third time the teams have ever met. The Eagles won the previous two matches. The first occurred at the 1998 Women’s Rugby World Cup where they beat Spain 38-16 in Amsterdam. The second was in the 2002 Women’s Rugby World Cup they beat Spain 23-5 in Barcelona.

The USA enters the match ranked 7th in the world, while Spain is currently 8th.

Pete Steinberg, USA Women’s Eagles head coach, has made three changes in the Eagles squad that will face Spain Sunday, August 13 at the UCD Bowl in Dublin starting at 9:45 a.m. ET.

Tiffany Faaee will captain the side at tighthead prop. Sam Pankey will start at hooker with Katy Augustyn as a reserve, while Catie Benson remains at loosehead prop.

Abby Gustaitis, who scored a try against Italy, will start with Alycia Washingtonas a reserve. She will team with Stacey Bridges, a WRWC veteran.

The back three remains intact, with Sara Parsons, the Player of the Match against Italy, teaming with Kate Zackary at flanker and Jordan Gray at No.8.

In the backs, Alev Kelter, the USA Women’s Sevens captain and Olympian moves into outside center with Sylvia Braaten moving to the replacements. She will pair with Sevens mate Nicole Heavirland. The backline also consists of Sevens players, Kristen Thomas, who scored two tries against Italy, with Naya Tapper at wing and Cheta Emba at fullback. Halfbacks Devin Owsiany and Kimber Rozier also retain their starting positions.

The USA was inside the Italian 22 meters on numerous times, but mistakes did not allow the USA to capitalize on their efforts many times. That will need to change against Spain.

Steinberg indicated to USA Rugby that “One of the things I feel like we can be really good at is line speed. Spain loves to move the ball, so we really need to put them under some defensive pressure. Line speed and really getting after the contest at the tackle area will be the big things on defense.”

“Our structure wasn’t quite right, so we weren’t able to source the rucks when it got wide the way we wanted to. We’ll have to make sure our structure is right, but we’re pretty happy with where we are.”

Spain has made four changes to their starting XV, with three additional position changes from their opening World Cup loss to England.

In the forwards, Isabel Rico, vice captain, will start at loosehead prop, with captain Aroa González remaining at hooker and Jeanina Vinueza at tighthead prop. Maria Ribera moves to #4, while Rocio García starts at lock, with Berta García moving to the reserves.

In the backs, the dangerous halfback combination of Anne Fernández de Corres and Patricia García remains. The back three changes as Uri Barrutieta will see her first WRWC action at left wing, with Iera Echebarria moving from wing to fullback and Amaia Erbina moving from center to right wing. Marina Bravo retains her inside center position and will be paired with Vanesa Rial, who was a reserve against England.

Spain is the second oldest team in the WRWC, and their team includes 11 Olympians. The USA will be tasked containing their ball handling and positional kicking.